A Nobel prize-winning genetics researcher has retracted two more papers, bringing his total to 13.
Gregg Semenza, a professor of genetic medicine and director of the vascular program at Johns Hopkins’ Institute for Cell Engineering in Baltimore, shared the 2019 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine for “discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability.”
Since pseudonymous sleuth Claire Francis and others began using PubPeer to point out potential duplicated or manipulated images in Semenza’s work in 2019, the researcher has retracted 12 papers. A previous retraction from 2011 for a paper co-authored with Naoki Mori – who with 31 retractions sits at No. 25 on our leaderboard – brings the total to 13.
The authors requested the latest pair of retractions, published September 4 in Cancer Research, according to the notices, which also mention “an institutional review by Johns Hopkins University.”
One of the papers, “PHGDH Expression Is Required for Mitochondrial Redox Homeostasis, Breast Cancer Stem Cell Maintenance, and Lung Metastasis,” was originally published in 2016 and has been cited 190 times, according to Clarivate’s Web of Science.
In October 2020, a PubPeer user commented that images labeled as representing tissue from two different mice looked “much more similar than expected.” The authors corrected the figure in 2022.
The retraction notice stated Johns Hopkins’ review determined the two images “had contiguous features, suggesting the images may be from the same mouse,” and “certain raw data” labeled to be from two different mice might also be from the same mouse. “The authors do not have confidence in the integrity of the data,” according to the notice.
The other recently retracted paper, “Collagen Prolyl Hydroxylases Are Essential for Breast Cancer Metastasis,” originally published in 2013, has been cited nearly 240 times. . PubPeer comments pointing out potential image duplications, including from Elisabeth Bik, began appearing in October 2020. The Hopkins review found some of the Western blot lanes were duplicated, as flagged on PubPeer.
“The authors apologize to the scientific community and deeply regret any inconveniences or challenges resulting from the publication and subsequent retraction of this article,” the notice stated.
Semenza has not responded to our request for comment, nor has Johns Hopkins. [See update at end.] Christine A. Iacobuzio-Donahue, editor in chief of Cancer Research, has not responded either.
Other Nobel prize-winners have retracted papers – Frances Arnold did so quite publicly in 2020 – but Semenza’s 13 retractions are the most among scientists who have garnered that recognition, as far as we’re aware.
Update, 1800 UTC: Johns Hopkins sent us this statement:
Johns Hopkins maintains the highest standards for accuracy and integrity in research. We have strict protocols and processes in place to evaluate any allegations of research impropriety and to determine an appropriate path forward, if necessary. Due to federal confidentiality laws and our policies, we cannot disclose further details.
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keep calling to ensure they pick up the phone.
In Italy 13 is a lucky number.